Bleacher Report - Articles by Bela Trimmel

Could Terry's Time Be Coming To a Close?

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:52:22 -0400

Chelsea and England captain John Terry believes it is unthinkable that his career will end without European and World Cup glory.

As the current season unfolds, Terry finds his ultimate plan to be on track.

The Blues have taken maximum point from seven of their eight matches. They are also two for two in their European campaign. Lastly, Fabio Capello's England have qualified for South Africa next year.

While both campagins are still extremely young, is it possible that this will be Terry's last season of professional football?

It Is Possible

Terry was quoted in a ESPN Soccernet article that:

"It would 100% always annoy me if I retired without a Champions League winners' medal with Chelsea or some real success with England. To end my career without either of those things is unthinkable.''

If he can capitalize on both of these goals, then the immortal could likely hang up his boots.

Despite the conditions on the pitch and his mental state, the missed penalty still haunts the defender.

He also seems to be unable to shake the image of Cristiano Ronaldo winking at him as England went out to Portugal in 2006.

"Things like that live with you forever," he went on to add.

Another factor that may hasten his departure if he were to win would be the his past injuries.

Terry has seen himself on the sidelines twice in the last three years from major injuries. As he continues to age, he may take into consideration the ability to bounce back as quickly.

But He May Stay

Two factors are prevalents in keeping the captain around Stamford Bridge and the English National Team.

The first factor would be Englands failure to qualify for the 2008 European Championships.

If the skipper is adament to go out with international glory, he would likely wait around until the qualifying for Euro 2012 would be complete.

If the Lions qualified, which they very well may do, and if he is fit, he could stay around for an attempt at one more trophy.

The second factor plays into the Euro qualification. In 2006, Terry renewed his contract with the club for five years that would take him through 2011.

He would likely re-sign a one year extension just to keep active and fit for the championships.

Terry Would Be Missed

In his decade with the club he has seen the evolution of Chelsea brand into what it is today.

And while at this juncture, there is no reason to believe that Terry will leave the club after the 2010 games, it can be assumed that he would be greatly missed by both club and country.

Roman Remains Committed To Blues Says Buck

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:37:04 -0400

Chelsea fans everywhere have watched the team go through the past three Champions League and Premiership campaigns and wondered if the failure to acquire trophies would lead to the departure of team owner Roman Abramovich.

The Russian oli magnate is not accustomed to losing in his ventures and speculation has been heavy that he would abandon ownership of Chelsea if they failed to secure a Champions League title.

All of those fears can now be allayed.

Chelsea's new chairman, Bruce Buck, announced on Wednesday that he and the board are adamant that the Russian will remain in West London.

However, he also commented that if Abramovich were to leave, the club would be able to survive.

While Abramovich has steadily scaled back his overall spending, a mantle now taken up by Manchester City, the club has struggled to break even.

Stabilizing the clubs bottom line was one of the priorities of outgoing chairman, Peter Kenyon, who failed to make good on his commitment.

Buck went on to comment that the status of Mr. Abamovich's ownership is a key factor observed by the board on a yearly basis. Based on their recent observation, the Russian will remain at the financial helm of the West London side for the near future.

Chelsea Feel No More Pressure Than Usual Under Ancelotti

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:46:54 -0400

From the transfer ban, to their hot start out of the gates, and lastly, the announcement of Peter Kenyon's departure, the club has experienced a roller coaster ride.

Petr Cech told the Guardian that the team is not experiencing any more pressure than usual.

Despite a lackluster performance in their match against FC Porto on September 15, the Chech international is confident that the team can excel in the Champions League this season.

The Pressure Has Always Been There.

In 2005, when Jose Mourinho was brought in to manage the club, his experience winning the Champions League was expected to trickle down to the west London team.

However, Mourinho was never able to secure the title and that led to the rotating manager situation that has pervaded the club in recent years.

Much like Mourinho, no manager has brought the trophy back to Stamford Bridge.

Avram Grant was the closest, leading them team to the final in 2007.

The arrival of Guus Hiddink saw a return to the way Chelsea played prior to Mourinho's departure and the pressure was on for the team to advance to the final. Once again, they were denied.

However, Hiddink's departure brought about another managerial change for Chelsea and speculation that the squad would return to their inconsistent ways.

Carlo Ancelotti took the helm at the start of the 2009 season and so far the team has been in top form. Ancelotti has the Champions League akin to what Mourinho brought to the club.

However, Ancelotti also won the trophy as a player as well.

But Is Ancelotti The Key?

Ancelotti has stated that a return to the final is the minimum expectation for the club this season and with the line up he has, it is certainly a possibility.

Ancelotti's playing career saw two Champions League victories in 1989 and 1990. He earned the title while playing with one of the finest sides AC Milan have fielded.

He then returned to coach Milan where his side won two Champions League titles.

Despite the depth of his trophy case, the end result comes down to the performance of the team.

However, it seems that Ancelotti has tapped into a drive to succeed that was started under Hiddink.

His experience on both sides of the trophy, player and coach, will only help to motivate a Chelsea side that are eager to prove themselves in Europe.

Like Always, There Will Be Pressure

While Cech's comment about not feeling pressure can and should be addressed on a player to player basis, there is certainly pressure on Ancelotti.

The Italian has lived through the football system and is likely aware of the coach courting that Chelsea have went through since the departure of Mourinho.

The pressure that the team isn't feeling is being shifted off to their manager.

Ancelotti knows he has to deliver in Europe or it will be likely that Chelsea owner, Roman Abromavich, will deal him out of the clubs 2010-2011 season for yet another coach.

However, Chelsea are armed with a squad that responds well to Ancelotti's style of coaching and a manager who has fought for the title on the level of a player.

Therefore, the factors are in place to see the pressure removed from Ancelotti with a Champions League victory for Chelsea

Stamford Bridge Isn't Falling Down: Chelsea's Early Season Review

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:10:54 -0400

East African Business Week reported on September 14 that Chelsea owner, Roman Abrmoavich had attempted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He didn't quite make it.

However, unlike their manager, Chelsea are making a steady climb toward the summit of the Premiership early in the season.

With five games under their belt, the west London side are at the top of the table on points and on goal differential.

The early weeks of the Premiership campaign are usually more up in the air than a child with a new trampoline, but the start of this season has seen the traditional "big four" tossed around.

Manchester United are a game behind the Blues. Liverpool and Arsenal are sitting at fifth and ninth, respectively.

With the opening pawns being pushed across the board, Chelsea are making the proper moves toward checkmating the Premiership title for the first time in three years.

Solid Foundation

A run toward the title starts early on in the season and Chelsea are laying the foundation for that run.

Chelsea didn't throw a lot of money around in the previous transfer window and there was speculation that the age of the team and the lack of depth would hurt the team against younger squads.

However, Chelsea have proved their critics wrong in the early going.

While the key players on the squads are getting on in the years, there is no lack of fire in the starting eleven.

Two of these key players, Drogba and Anelka, are finally syncing with each other, a feat that previous managers have been unable to achieve.

The play of these two players is being accentuated by coach Carlo Ancelotti's use of the diamond formation that former manager Jose Mourinho was known for.

The formation allows for players like Lampard and Ballack to release the two strikers into space with more ease and create chances.

But Is Foundation All That Solid?

There is no doubt that Chelsea have had the best start of the traditional top four clubs, but there are areas that are lacking.

Three of the five matches have seen Chelsea go down early. While they have equalized and eventually won, the go-ahead goals are coming late in the matches when it seems like a draw is in hand.

While a win is a win, with the offensive capabilities of the squad, the victories should't be coming in the last gasp.

With further regards to the squad, the FIFA enacted transfer ban will likely have an effect on the first team selections.

While the ban is expected to be appealed, Ancelotti will need to dip into the younger members of the team to ensure that the senior members of the squad can be rested for key matches. It also ensures a crop of talent in case the ban is not lifted until 2011.

May Is What Matters

The season is five weeks old and it is going to be a long, cold, and hard season.

With the new threat being posed by Manchester City and the early defeats that the other top four teams have suffered, the road is certainly not going to be paved with gold for the Premiership favorites.

However, with the return of Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov, the Blues available options will increase and increase their chances.

So, will this be Chelsea's season to displace Manchester United?

Only time will tell, but, if they continue their current play, we will likely see the Premiership trophy return to Stamford Bridge.

Match Preview: Chelsea v. Sunderland

Bela Trimmel — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:53:06 -0400

Premier League football continues on Tuesday evening as Chelsea take on Sunderland at The Stadium of Light.

This midweek match will likely serve as a test for the strength of The Black Cats lineup for the coming season.

Newly appointed manager, Steve Bruce, was quoted by the BBC on Monday as saying "they are one of the best teams in the world (Chelsea)... but the way we played against Bolton showed that we can match anyone."

Bruce certainly had the less stressful match at the weekend. His side secured a win on a Darren Bent goal five minutes into the match.

Meanwhile, Bruce's counterpart, newly appointed Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti spent the better part of the match wondering if his opening game would be a draw.

The Good

New management seems to be working well, so far, for both clubs. Steve Bruce's side sailed to an easy opening victory and his signings apart from Bent have added depth to the Sunderland midfield.

For Chelsea, the new management seems to have brought a stronger sense of stability that was ushered in under Guus Hiddink when he assumed his stewardship of the club at the end of last season.

Chelsea players seem to be regaining the confidence that they had prior to the departing of Jose Mourinho.

The Bad

The only real downside facing the two clubs are the injuries to their benches.

Sunderland are looking at two unavailable players in McShane and de Silva.

Steed Malbranque is looking at a 50% chance of playing after an ankle injury he suffered against Bolton this past weekend where he was subbed off. He is joined by Kieran Richardson and Andy Reid as doubtful for the match.

Chelsea will start the match tomorrow without Joe Cole, Paulo Ferreira, and their summer signing, Yuri Zhirkov. Belletti and Alex are doubtful for the Blues.

Prediction

While Sunderland have made descent signings during the transfer window, look for Chelsea to win this match.

While it is unlikely that it will be an easy match for the Blues, after their near draw over on Saturday, they will be looking to improve their form quickly and silence their critics.

Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland

Blues Bounce Back On Opening Day To Defeat Hull

Bela Trimmel — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:59:06 -0400

The 2009-2010 Barclay's Premier League season kicked off on Saturday afternoon when Hull traveled to Stamford Bridge to take on the Premier League's third place finishers from last season, Chelsea.

For fans in the United States, this was truly a landmark match. In a deal struck with Fox Sports International late Friday night saw the network acquire the rights to 48 Premier League matches for this coming season.

And true to the quality one has come to expect from a Premiership match, the 6:30 a.m. wake up call for this author was not in vain.

Testy For Former Milan Boss

Carlo Ancelotti became the fifth manager in the two years to take the helm at Stamford Bridge, and pundits are contemplating if a slow start for the Italian will see him gone by the midpoint of the season.

And in the early going, it seemed that things were not guaranteed to go the former Milan boss's way.

Two early attempts by Didier Drogba were sent wide and high, respectively, of Hull keeper Boaz Myhill.

Then, on 28 minutes, Hull's newest signing, Stephen Hunt, opened the scoring. Petr Cech was found on the pitch after a scramble near the top of the six yard box.

The deflection from a shot by Hull captain George Boateng fell into the path of the former Reading striker who caught the downed Cech with a simple finish to take the early lead.

Despite being greeted with jeers by Chelsea fans over his clash with Petr Cech two seasons ago that resulted in the Chelsea keeper's fractured skull, Hunt celebrated the only goal that Hull would see in the match.

The joy of the shot would be short lived for the Tigers, who are enjoying only their second season in the top flight of English football.

Didier Drogba, who recently signed a three-year contract extension that will likely keep him at the London club through the end of his career, leveled just nine minutes later.

The Ivorian international's goal came off a well-struck free kick from 25 yards. The shot dipped past a diving Myhill causing Stamford Bridge to erupt into celebration.

The awarding of the free kick by referee Alan Wiley will likely be questioned by Hull fans.

Seyi Olofinjana, an attacking midfielder, moved in on Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi. The brief contention of the ball was settled when Boateng moved in to assist Olofinjana, drawing the foul and the free kick.

In all, the opening half of the game proved to be even goings for both sides. However, apart from the opening two attempts by Drogba, Chelsea were bogged down by an aggressive Hull offense and defense.

Looking Toward A Draw

The second half began just as the first half had with just minor changes by both squad.

Hull replaced Dean Marney, who suffered an injury while going in for a challenge just before the first half ended. He was subbed out for Nick Barmby.

Chelsea also made their first change, removing Mikel Obi for Michael Ballack.

Within the first minute of the half, Nicolas Anelka made a valid attempt on goal, only to see the shot spent at the legs of Myhill.

This initial attack was met by fettered attempts from Chelsea to secure the go-ahead-goal—but Hull, lead by the excellent goalkeeping of Boaz Myhill, fought off the siege and cleared the ball.

The release of tension off of the Hull defense looked to be rewarded by a Hunt cross to a well-placed Caleb Folan.

The perfectly placed cross came to the striker close to eight yards from the goal line. Rather than take the glory for himself, Folan headed the ball sideways to a non-existent teammate, allowing Chelsea to clear away the hopes of securing the winning goal.

The announcement of six minutes of extra time brought a glimmer of hope to both sides though.

It would be Chelsea that would seize upon the extra time, with a well-placed chip by Drogba that floated over Myhill and sealed the Blues win.

Final Thoughts

Hull, who were one point shy of relegation at the end of the previous season, came into Stamford Bridge, and nearly stunned a confident Chelsea side.

It is a positive message from a team who started their campaign last year on a hot streak only to see it fall apart as the season progressed.

Chelsea, the likely contenders to dethrone Manchester United, spent the better part of the game in an uneasy tension that should have been easily set aside. However, the side played a timid first match that does not do their new coach justice.

It's too early in the season to write off Hull, especially with Myhill in goal. Drogba received the man of the match award for his two goals, but Myhill deserved equal praise for the pressure he faced in goal today.

Chelsea, on the other hand, will have an uphill climb this season. While it is not likely that they will approach all their matches the way they did today, the threat of a draw strikes one as eerily reminiscent of last season. This could lead to a repeat in the pattern of the revolving door of managers at Chelsea, and another third place finish.

A Wandering Bolton Shall Go: Bolton Vs. Chelsea Match Preview

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:27:14 -0400

The last time Bolton faced Chelsea, things were slightly different for the boys in blue.

Phil Scolari was still in charge and there was already speculation he could be dismissed before the end of the season. It also seemed the players form was slightly shaky.

Anelka and Decon pulled off a 2-0 win for Chelsea.

But since that time, things have heated up immensely in the league.

The leaders in the league have been tested relentlesly since the beginning of March. This action will only spur what will be an exciting end to the league again this year.

Match Preview

For the Wanders, who saw off Middelsborough with a 4-1 thumping on the weekend, it is an uphill battle.

While there is no way for them to advance into the top four this season, they are striving to climb past their current 12th position in the league table.

The trip to Stamford Bridge will not likely see a similar result from the previous weekend. However, it is not altogether unlikely Bolton could score more this time round.

Though, they currently have some factors working against them.

Chelsea toppled the great fortress that is Anfeild on Wednesday night to increase their chances and advance in Europe.

Logically speaking, the team will still be riding an increased wave of emotion from their win. Chelsea will likely seek to continue their spot on form against Bolton.

Another factor going against Bolton is this game is a must win for Chelsea, who continue to watch their chances at a league victory slip away. Chelsea need to take maximum points in this game to keep their hope of domestic silverware alive.

It seems Bolton have nothing to lose nor gain from this match and that conservative tactics will minimize the impact Chelsea may have against them. All is not so simple, however. The Trotters run the risk of dropping to 15th if they lose to the Blues.

The Trotters last six games of the season may seem them taking nine of 18 possible points and if a timely injury or a suspension were to occur, they could see themselves straddling the relegation line by the end of the season.

Ultimately, Chelsea are the more likely side to win this match.

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton

Chelsea-Liverpool Preview: Fifth Verse Same as the First

Bela Trimmel — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:59:28 -0400

Birds are chirping and lions are starting to venture from their caves, as spring comes on.

This Wednesday will see the resumption of the Champions League rivalry of Liverpool and Chelsea.

This is the fifth incarnation of the battle between the two English superpowers and just like the previous five, this will prove to be an interesting match from the start.

Chelsea

Chelsea will be making the trip up to Liverpool for the first leg of this match and it will be a trial by fire for the lions, as they take on a Liverpool team that are looking at domestic glory for the first time in several years.

Liverpool's chances to grab silverware have went by the wayside in the last year and Chelsea was able to capitalize on the Anfield boys' missteps.

While Chelsea came away with a runner-up spot in last years final to Manchester United, the team will be looking to avenge their defeat last year. And Liverpool just happens to be in the way.

One of the main arguments that I have come across is Chelsea's touch and go results during group play and in the round of 16 but it goes without saying that Chelsea played against good teams.

Granted, during group play the draw to Cluj showed a shimmer of disorganization within the squad. While some had their ideas that Scolari was fast on his way out, the play covered up the real problem that existed at the club.

Since arriving, Guss Hidink has somewhat turned the squad around. Domestically, the club have pulled points from the majority of their games. The next European fortnight will test Hidink and his ability to keep his job with the club.

I am not sure that Chelsea will be able to play with just Drogba forward with service from the wings. There is the possibility of putting Anelka up front with the Ivorian to offset the Liverpool defense, which has been a staunch wall of red at the back as of late.

Chelsea is going to have service from their imposing midfield and hopefully their shots can draw out the Liverpool defense and create chances for the strikers.

The Chelsea back four, while holding of Newcastle at the weekend, will have their hands full facing the attacking offense of Liverpool. If the organization is not present at the back, they will be leaving Petr Chech on his own to stop the onslaught that Liverpool will likely bring.

Liverpool

Murphy's Law seems to have no place at Anfield these days.

The reds have been on a illustrious run both domestically and internationally, as of late. And unlike Chelsea, they have had the consistency of a gaffer.

Rafael Benitez has led his squad to impressive win after win, in the last month and a half of the season and there is no inclination that the team or their gaffer are going to slow down any time soon.

On paper, the reds had an easier run into the position they are in right now. Their wins over Real Madrid to advance to their current spot, further solidify the level at which the team is playing right now in Europe.

There really isn't much to say when it comes down to the Liverpool squad.

Striking—Check

Midfield—Check

Defense—Check.

The match will likely be cagey when it opens, as most of the matches are, but as it settles, Liverpool will find their rhythm, likely quicker than Chelsea, and they will be off to the races.

While it is unlikely going to be an all out goal fest for Liverpool, the combination of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres attacking the Chelsea net will prove a difficult test for Chelsea's back four.

The major factor in this match, though, is Liverpool's confidence.

The team have simply been on an amazing run and that confidence will follow them to Anfield on Wednesday.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

The Fredy Montero Incident: Good For The MLS Or Not?

Bela Trimmel — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:00:19 -0400

*Let it be known, that this article is not an attempt to slander Mr. Montero or his accuser. I hope that this situation works itself out in short order and that if Mr. Montero is guilty, that he recieves the punishment for it. The focus of the articles it to examine the ramifications of the outcomes. Sorry if it offends someone.

As Alex wrote in his article, Seattle Sounders superstar Fredy Montero is under investigation for two counts of alleged sexual assault and one count of alleged stalking.

As of Friday, the initial reports on the matter were on their way to the King County prosecutors office for further review.

Montero, who was not present for the Sounders win in Toronto over the weekend, is possibly one of the first cases of an MLS star being accused, and potentially charged, with such a viral offense.

While the public officials will hash out whether or not Montero is guilty, an issue that should be looked at is how will this effect the image of the MLS.

She's Just After The Money

When an athlete is accused of a crime like sexual assault, people are often quick to comment that it had everything to do with their bank account.

"She is chasing his money and she thinks he will pay to hush her up."

No athlete wants that kind of press. Certainly no one in the position that Montero is in right now. He has been the bright, shining light of the Sounders young franchise.

However, there is the chance that this will all blow over.

Will it bring focus to the MLS? Possibly, and if it does, people will likely react skeptically, especially with the progression of the story.

When I learned about it from the friday edition of the World Soccer Daily podcast on Saturday afternoon, Montero was only suspected of stalking the girl.

However, at the time of writing, news sources are adding in the alleged sexual assault charges.

Observers will argue that the police were not paying attention to her, so she upped the severity of her allegations.

If this is proved to be true, it will shine positive light on the 21-year-old Colombian.

It is possible that this will bring more attention to not only him, but to the MLS as well. People will start to watch Sounders games to see how he plays, and to see if the fallout from the allegations will affect his performances.

This Could Get Bad

It is possible that Montero will be found liable for the crimes and this could go to trial.

The trial itself won't attract the national media. The boy isn't Michael Vick by any means.

However, it will get likely get strong coverage in at least Washington, and possibly down into California for the media. Football fans though, will likely turn an ear to the trial and pay a great deal of attention.

The mass public may take the trial in a horrible light.

"He was here to play and look how he abuses the privilege to play in America."

"How could he do such a thing? He should be kicked off the team."

Now, I will admit, these are stretches on what some may say, but for a league like the MLS that has finally started to see some penetration into the American sporting conscious, it can't be a good omen for things to come.

Sure, David Beckham draws fans, but let's face it, he's likely going to stay in Italy for a long time, and I doubt most people can tell you about Freddy Ljungberg.

Fans go for name and face recognition. If you have a player pulling something like this, it will create a bad mental image for the parent who is planing on taking the family to a Sounders game, or a Dynamo game, simply because of bias.

One player does it and we become wary of the league.

At the end of the day, the MLS is going to get press out of this. It's likely going to be a mix between good bad, and the weighting will be set when the allegations are investigated further.

Chelsea To Expand Asian Influence In The Premier League

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:53:39 -0400

John Terry has been one of the most iconic players in England for the last decade, and while the tides are slowly turning, it doesn't seem as though English football is doing much to expand its base of UK players.

You can read a number of articles from various sources about the state of the English game, and a large number argue that the Premiership is the best league in the world because it employs a large portion of the worlds players.

Attempts by UEFA and FIFA to institute a "6+5" rule, where at least six players of the starting eleven must be from the country of the teams origins, have had little effect on English sides as of late.

However, Chelsea have announced that they will hold a competition in early May to find up and coming Asian stars in the UK.

The competition, "Search For An Asian Soccer Star," is being held with support from the FA, "Kick It Out", and the Asian Media Group. It will consist of a three day competition, May 2-4, at the club's Cobham training ground.

Players of Asian descent from the ages of 12-14 are encouraged to come out and participate. One winner from each age group will be offered a further three day trial at the club.

Competitions For Kids Happen All The Time

That is the plain and honest truth. I remember growing up and going to youth events were the goal was to "earn" a place on the team by performing well.

This is a bit different than the average run of the mill kids competition. Looking at Nike.com and seeing their new five-a-side tournament is proof enough that there is young talent in the UK.

Chelsea are killing two birds with one stone with this competiton. They are getting the young and outstanding players that will be the stars of tomorrow, and they are also helping to improve the level of talented players in the country.

Some argue that the club is doing this solely for advertisement and public relations points.

It is likely that that is one of their goals, however, the staff are bringing in managers and scouts from other teams to get a look at the talent. If Chelsea don't pick up a participant, then hopefully they can make it at a lower level club and work their way up the ranks.

A Trend Setter?

Will this move by Chelsea lead to other clubs hosting their own competitions?

It is too early to tell but it is likely that other competitions will follow in the near future, as other teams realize the importance of padding their youth academies with talented local players.

Until that time, though, the experiment being undertaken by Chelsea will serve as a benchmark for other clubs to follow when looking to expand their own player diversification programs.

Wenger Fears That Terrorists Could Target Football

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:46:19 -0400

While the Gunners of Arsenal wrapped up an exhilarating Champions League between Roma on Wednesday on penalties, their coach, Arsene Wenger, feels that there may be other guns directed toward the Emirates.

In the wake of the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team last week, the Arsenal boss stated that he fears that terrorists could attack football next and that the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal play its home games, had received threats in the past that have proved fruitless.

More Violence To Come?

Any fan worth their weight in pre-match pints can remember, or at least tell you about the days when violence was a crowd perpetrated event.

Some of the first literature I read about the nature of football had to deal with a paper I wrote for my British history class on the subject of hooliganism as it varied from England to the European continent.

The stories I came across were often times horrific accounts of orgies of violence that culminated in some nine-year-old kids head bouncing off the pavement because some larger, and often times drunk, supporter just saw that he was in a certain jersey.

But the type of violence that Wenger is alluding to could do far more damage to the modern game than anything played out in Among The Thugs ever did.

The stadia of the top flight teams are prime targets to make a statement by anyone with enough of an intention and enough explosives/toxic chemicals to make it happen. Imagine if a well placed bomb were to be exploded under a pillar in a not so modern stadium. You may not injure enough fans in the initial attack but the flooding out of the stadium would be worse than Haysel.

While it has not been highly publicized, the stadium construction in South Africa could play as an easy target for the sports centric violence that could be the new medium of attack.

Reports out of the country are still showing that the construction for the stadia is lagging behind and will unlikely be thrown together in the last minute. The buildings will not be structurally sound and the pandemonium of people that would not be accustomed to the streets of South Africa would only exacerbate this problem more.

Is This Real Life?

That's the question I found asking myself on the morning of September 11th.

And now, after the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, I find myself asking it again.

I'm not sure any fans can readily wrap their minds around what would happen if the San Siro were to collapse or if the Strefford End at Old Trafford all of a sudden exploded.

In all reality, though, as well monitored as the games are, it is unlikely that something like that will happen. But also, I wouldn't rule out that this may be the start of a new cluster of attacks that may grow into a trend that will forever tarnish this beautiful game.

Edwin Van Der Sar Strains His Back Against Newcastle

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:06:08 -0500

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was seen exiting a Manchester hospital on Thursday afternoon after having arrived there earlier that morning.

When asked by the press what had happened, he replied that he had injured his back during Manchester United's match against Newcastle on Wednesday.

However, there is no video evidence of van der Sar making any of his usually spectacular saves that could have led to such an injury.

It is likely that the injury came during the ninth minute when he was forced to dig the ball out of the back of the net. It would seem that he had forgotten what it was like to bend over to retrieve it.

Also if you look closely, there seems to be a curious look on the keepers face as to what exactly that spherical object was that was in the back of the net.

Prior to Peter Lovenkrands' goal, van der Sar had gone 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal in the league.

We wish him a speedy recovery and best of luck next time recognizing the ball and knowing that he needs to stop it before it gets past the goal line.

Hiddink Is Big Where It Counts or Why the Blues Manager Is Like Jose

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:09:41 -0500

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge a little under a month ago, Gus Hiddink has been off to a marvelous start.

His team has fought back to the second place spot in the Premiership and are looking confident for their away leg at Jueventus during Champions League play next week.

It truly seems that the team is starting to find their boots again, and Michael Ballack may have hit on the reason why.

Charismatic Coach

UEFA released an article today that brings to light comments made by the Chelsea mid-fielder. "He has a real charisma and a big personality."

Sound familiar?

I would certainly argue that those were two of the more prominent qualities of departed Blues boss, Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho had a charisma about him that simply could not be matched by many of the other managers in the Premiership, especially in the top flight. He also had a personality that would have floated the Bridge off its foundation if not for the supports anchoring it to the ground.

The Special One Part Deux?

With the anticipated return of Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvahlo for next week's match against Juventus, things are looking bright for the Blues and their new manager.

But the question comes down to this: Is the huge personality and charisma being exuded by Hiddink going to turn south the way it did for Mourinho?

Honestly, I don't think so.

Hiddink has a willing and able squad that are finding their boots again after almost a year and a half.

With it making it to the Champions League final last year, they proved that they can do great things if coached well.

There was more than just poor playing on the part of the team that forced Scolari out last month. The team seems to be accepting of Hiddink though, perhaps because of the ego that he carries.

At the end of the day, Hiddink will likely stay at the Bridge into next season. And with wins, be them domestic or in Europe, his personality will swell even more and with it, the hopes of the team.

Lets just hope that he can truly be the next Special One and not someone who can't fill the boots left by Mourinho

Chelsea-Portsmouth: Slippery Conditions Slide The Blues To Victory

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:09:34 -0500

When I began to play football on a more consistent basis around three years ago, I constantly had an image in my head of a rain soaked pitch and the often gunmetal grey skies of England every match day.

While I have moved beyond that fantasy, Tuesday's match at Fratton Park brought those notions flooding back to me.

Unfortunately, neither team saw a deluge of goals in this must win for either team.

Chelsea moved back to the second spot in the Premier League standings after what should have been an easy win against Wigan at the weekend.

Portsmouth are in a slightly bleaker situation at present. They are currently sitting two points shy of the relegation zone. However, Pompey manager Paul Heart stated in the post match press conference that he is "confident of survival" in the league.

Drogba Bouncing Back?

It seems that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, is finding his pre-Avram Grant form once again.

The Ivorian gave the go ahead score 12 minutes short of the full time whistle to seal the deal and hand Portsmouth a less than resounding thump closer to packing their Premiership bags and heading to the Championship.

Drogba continued to impress as he saw several goal scoring chances squandered or shut down by the Pompey defense.

If Drogba was controlling things offensively, Petr Chech was certainly keeping the team together on the back side of the pitch.

Despite their best efforts, Pompey strikers were not able to squeeze a single shot past Chech. It seems though, that Pompey would have had a hard time going against Chelsea in the match anyway as only two of their 14 shots were placed on net forcing saves.

Going Forward—or Qunituples and Quagmires

I don't know how often the word quintuple gets tossed around in football, but Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to squash rumors earlier this week that the Reds could pull out five trophies this year.

I think he was right to do so for two reasons:

1) Yeah, you're Manchester United. God likely hand crafted every member of that squad, but you don't want the team having that much weight on it's shoulders.

2) Sir Alex knows, just like the rest of us do, that the Premiership can be changed around quicker than a baby's diaper at a nursery. This league is shifty at best and he knows that.

I think Chelsea and Liverpool have a chance to challenge right now in the short term—and possibly the long term.

I think Chelsea's chances increase slightly with the return of Michael Essien to the mid-field lineup.

As for Portsmouth, things are unlikely to be as rosy.

Paul Heart was appointed acting manager of the team within 24 hours of Scolari being sacked at Chelsea. However, Gus Hiddink has had more experience than the steward at Fratton Park.

I think it's likely that the team will stay out of relegation trouble this year. The mixed company that they are in from the 13th to the 17th spot in the table is certainly able to throw off the entire relegation table and make it a true battle for those three spots.

Who Do You Support: A Look at Charities Devoted to the Beautiful Game

Bela Trimmel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:23:44 -0500

As the year draws to an end and we turn to our holiday get togethers and our New Year's resolutions, some of us may hear of our friends who make a yearly donation to a charity.

When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimers when I was in high school, I wanted to do as much as I could to help her. I didn't really care for anyone else with the disease. Yeah, that's selfish, but I was 16 and I was angry.

I carried that anger for years up until her death in 2006. Then I realized that I could help but it would mean donating money to the cause. To be honest, I couldn't find an Alzheimer's charity that appealed to me.

It didn't help that I got caught up with football the summer that she died either. It took my focus off everything. I would leave the nursing home and go back to my apartment and just do kicks off this wall that sits in a field on the property grounds.

The thing that took my mind off the pain of losing my grandmother became a passion that has burned in me until now.

I finally realized over the summer that football needs support too. Sure, I support a club but there are kids who, just like Pele, still play with a ball made of socks.

While this article may seem a bit disconnected, it has a point.

We, the fans, can help make the game beautiful for others who may not have the resources to do so. So, as I make my initial donations this coming Christmas, not only to Alzheimer's research but football charities as well, I'd like to give a brief snippet of a few organizations that are working to make sure the kids play beautiful.

The Short List

Kicks for Nick — Nick Madaras was a PFC in the United States Army. He played football in high school and after joining the Army and being deployed to Iraq, he commented on how well the Iraqi children played with the simplest means. He wondered what they could do if they had actual balls.

He gathered all the balls he could find to take back with him with the intent to distribute them to the children.

Nick would never see this come to light. He was killed by an IED on 3 September 2006.

After his death, an organization was started to carry on Nick's dream of getting the balls to these children. They take monetary donations and deflated soccer balls.

Soccer Without Borders — Prejudice seems to be a more common theme in the game these days.

While fans are receiving bans from matches for hateful behavior directed toward players, no one thinks of the consequences on younger players.

If you see a player being abused for the color of his skin, you may never want to kick a ball out of fear of the same behavior.

Soccer Without Borders is a collaborative effort among coaches, players, and fans to erode the hate and prejudice that exists in the game. They believe that there can be a harmonious balance in the game again.

They operate in three countries at present and hold two annual camps yearly.

The Favela Project — The Favela Project is directed toward helping the children of the Favelas in Brazil.

They also offer American players the opportunity to travel to Brazil to experience Brazilian football while they help perform community outreach to the residents.

The offer you the ability to make a general donation or you may purchase merchandise with the Favela Project logo on it.

The End Game

We have all seen what can come from the simplicity of the game.

Pele was an amazing start that turned the game on its head. Imagine if these groups would have been around then. Imagine the talent that we can turn out if these groups are able to perform their function.

I hope everyone takes something away from this article. If not a kinder outlook on the conditions facing the next Ronaldo or Drogba, perhaps you will see fit to open your check book for the sake of those that can't afford to buy the new socks you bought because your old ones were coming thread bare.

Roman Abramovich to Cease Backing the Blues

Bela Trimmel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:36:42 -0500

Chelsea went through to the knockout stages of the Champions League today with a win over Cluj.

With talent running thin and injured, many were wondering the Blues would make it out of group play at all.

While the team are still in the running for both the Champions League and the Premiership titles, it is worth fast forwarding to the start of the 2009-2010 season.

After this season, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will cease to support the team.

Chief Executive at the club, Peter Kenyon, went on record as saying that he wishes to make the club self-sufficient. He looks for the team to be profitable on its own within two years.

Right Move, Wrong Time?

Kenyon stated less than a month ago that Chelsea would not do much shopping during the upcoming transfer window. If Abramovich pulls the purse closed before the summer signing window can get going, the club may experience a bleaker shopping season than Macy's.

The move to make Chelsea independent is logical.

Since the Russian oil magnate arrived at Stamford Bridge, the team has been accused of buying their back-to-back Premiership titles. Abramovich put out much of his own money to make sure the club could land signings such as Didier Drogba.

The moves to buy players with limited team success has led to Chelsea having its third manager in two years.

Had they not went through to the knockout stages, they would likely be on their fourth.

By moving away from a reliance on the owner's money, it gives the board a bit more freedom to do what it wants with the managerial staff and the signings.

While it is a logical move, it may be the wrong time to attempt to wean the club off the money.

In an earlier article, I wrote about how the credit crisis being felt by the world was finally trickling down to football.

This could be the catalyst to bring Stamford Bridge down.

In such tight financial times, it does not make sense to pull away from the backing that has been there through the long run.

With the coming transfer period, start watching for who Chelsea put up for sale and how much they collect. That will determine how talented the team lineup will be come fall.

Will Stamford Bridge Be Falling Down?: Chelsea VS. Cluj

Bela Trimmel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:43:14 -0500

With the final set of group play fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, it is crunch time for Chelsea.

The Blues need nothing short of a win in their match at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, or they will likely fall to a UEFA cup spot.

The pressure being placed on the players and their manager, while not being publicly expressed, has likely been building since the Blues' last Champions League fixture, which ended in a draw against Bordeaux.

The Blues manager has backed off his initial announcement after the draw that he would return to Brazil if the team failed to qualify for the knockout stages. However, he may not have a choice if Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, has anything to do with it.

While the Russian oil magnate has not made any official statements to the tune of "win or get out," it is likely that the thought has entered his head.

It was little over a year ago when Chelsea tied with Rosenborg, thus putting the nail in Jose Mourinho's coffin. Since that time, Chelsea have went on to make it to the championship match against Manchester United this past season.

Despite having got that far, the team ended up losing out on the points races with Manchester United. The Red Devils went on to win both the Premiership and the Champions League.

It seems that the whims of Abramovich are too wide to pin down by one manager. Success in Europe should translate to success in England, but that is not always the case.

While it is unlikely that Abramovich will send Scolari job hunting with less than a month until Christmas and the opening of the transfer window, it will be interesting to see if he remains at the club after this year if the team fail to qualify.

Lampard Is Seeing Red

The Chelsea midfielder will be unavailable for Tuesday's match after he received two yellow cards in the match against Bordeaux.

Hopefully this will not effect Nicholas Anelka's night too much. Anelka, who scored the only goal for Chelsea in their draw, was fed the ball by Lampard before being subbed out for Didier Drogba.

Also to be questioned is the role, if any, Drogba will play in the match.

The Ivorian is currently serving a three-match ban in the Premiership for a coin-throwing incident. This, coupled with injuries, have kept him from partnering with Anelka on the pitch.

Scolari seems adamant on placing the two together, but it is unlikely that it will occur in such a critical match. Look for Anelka to come out around the 60-minute mark if he under-performing.

When it comes to the mid third of the field, Chelsea are more than capable of producing scoring chances and assisting Anelka or Drogba in that area.

A fit Joe Cole, coupled with Ballack and Deco, will make for a midfield that will likely orchestrate the bulk of the game for the Blues.

When you have such a well-oiled midfield, it makes the work for the strikers easy and almost puts them out of a job.

Defensively, the squad should be fine. Baring a major slip-up by the back four, Cech should sail to a clean sheet against the Romanian side.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-0 Cluj

"I Can't Afford To Wax My Chest Anymore" Says Ronaldo

Bela Trimmel — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:33:44 -0500

With the worlds economies bracing for what is going to be a financially unstable winter, we are learning that even the multi- millionaire footballers of Europe are having hard times.

A group of reporters asked Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo why he seemed sadened despite having won the award for European footballer of the year. His answer was a bit shocking to the press and there were attempts to contain laughter. "It's been a struggle but I cannot afford to have my chest waxed anymore. The lady I go to is loosing customers and she has had to up her prices."

Likewise, his fellow United team mate, Wayne Rooney has been spotted having contractors coming into his Cheshire mansion. Sources closes to the footballer say that he is having to have his garden ripped up again to have the under soil heaters he had put in in 2007.

The sources go on to report that Rooney's are also starting to live a slightly greener lifestyle by replacing all their bulbs with lower light emitting bulbs in an attempt to save on their monthly bills.

Things are just as bad in London.

Chelsea star Didier Drogba is reportedly having to give up the acting lessons that he has been taking since he arrived at the west London side in 2004.

Drogba, who is known for his diving habits, has refused to admit that he had the lessons in the first place but photos have shown him leaving the residence of a known acting coach who has worked in the horror industry, helping actresses learn to fall when running from an assailant.

While is unlikely that we will see footballers digging through the "take a penny-leave a penny" container at the market anytime soon, if the crisis continues, some players may be forced to sell some of their more lavish items and end up driving cars from the early 2000's to practice.

This is a general disclaimer about the article itself. After writing my article on the credit crisis, it made me think about some of the things that footballers would have to give up. This article is by no means true. It is a piece of comedy and hopefully if you are reading it and having a bad day, it brings a smile to your face.

Football and the Global Credit Crisis: A Snapshot

Bela Trimmel — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:07:17 -0500

Many aspects go together to make football one of the most loved sports in the world.

Three of the largest tenants of the game are the fans, the clubs, and the players, but with the current global financial crisis, these facets of the game are starting to be affected.

In this brief article, we will look at the three aspects mentioned above and see how they are effecting the heart of our beautiful game.

Fans

Middlesbrough currently sit in 12th place in the Premier League table after a loss to Hull at the weekend.

The match itself did not draw a very large crowd at the KC Stadium but it is unlikely that it would have drawn much of a crowd had it been played at The Riverside.

While there is no concrete information for this season, reports show that the attendance figures at Middlesbrough home games are down. Figures from the 2006-07 to the 2007-08 season, show a near 4% drop in attendance for the club.

While the derby match against Newcastle drew an almost capacity crowd at around 32,000, it is safe to say that the attendance issue is still affecting the club.

Middlesbrough Chief Executive, Keith Lamb, reported on 27th November 2008 that the club will likely use funds from their television deal to subsidise prices at the club.

In these tight financial times, clubs cannot expect fans to shell out the money that they had in the past for tickets. Considering other expenses, such as travel and refreshments at the ground, the average fan cannot afford to take their child let alone themselves to a game whenever they fancy.

While Middlesbrough do not rely directly on the money that they pull in from ticket sales, the club still needs the fans to be there and do what they do best—support the team.

The Players

When we go to a match, we expect to see our favorite player on the pitch. At some clubs where the talent is not spread across the entire team, you have the chance to see players who do not grace the front page of FourFourTwo magazine—unless they start scoring goals.

However, what do you do when the money starts to dry up?

Logically you start to sell players to supplement the team and the one or two big stars you have on in your squad could be the first to go in order to generate money. This is the issue that is facing the West Ham manager, Gianfranco Zola.

The Hammers boss has gone on record stating that he wants to keep players like Dean Ashton and Matthew Upson. He feels that the current squad size of 24 players is too large.

With the mid season transfer window less than a month away, players that may not make it off the bench more than a few times a season will likely be straining themselves at practice and during matches to make sure that they don't end up at lower level club come January.

While they would still be getting paid, it is likely that they will be uprooted and shipped off to an Austrian league or perhaps even the K-League in Korea.

Most players keep the thought of being transferred somewhere in their mind. However, they never dream of being shipped to a club where they might be financially unstable.

The cost of relocating to another club is expensive and the way things are going, the wages they earn may be in question when they get there.

The Clubs

Believe it or not, there are wage discrepancies in the Scottish Premier League yet again.

Earlier this year saw Gretna forced into administration due to lack of funds for the team. Players went for weeks without being paid and it seemed like the club would never see daylight again.

Now concerns are rising once again at Hearts, with the Edinburgh club already late twice this season with players wages.

While the manager reports that morale at the team is good, it will unlikely stay that way for much longer if the matter becomes habit rather than an isolated incident.

The club is owned by Ukio Bankas Investment Group, which in turn is owned by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov. It is unclear how the firm is dealing with the current credit crisis but it is likely to effect the team wages again in the long run—possibly forcing the team into administration.

The Crisis and The Richer Clubs

I have never cared much for Roman Abramovich because I believe the guy bought Chelsea as something else to add to his collection of world class toys.

I have friends that are Manchester United fans but they hate their owners, the Glazers.

You can take Chelsea and Manchester United away from the statement and insert the name of many other big clubs in the world and it would likely still fit.

We can not stand the owner, but aren't we glad they are loaded?

It's almost like a safety net made out of money. We rest easy at night knowing that even if the revenue from merchandise, ticket sales, and all the other little things that feed into the clubs, the owners could bail the club out.

However, if you are Hearts supporter, or a Newcastle supporter, or even a club like Rochdale, the credit crisis scares the crap out of you and rightfully so.

I can't imagine the anxiety that goes through some of the fans that follow their team religiously. They have to be shaking in their team colored boots right now because they are unsure if they will even have a club to cheer next season and that makes the beautiful game a little less beautiful.

Drogba "Will Be Going No Where In January," Says Kenyon

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:35:18 -0500

Peter Kenyon told the BBC earlier this week that Chelsea have no major plans for the January transfer window. "Most of the players we would go after are usually cup tied during the window," he said.

You can speculate with a high degree of certainty that the intention of the question was not to see if Chelsea were interested in rivaling the wish list of Manchester City but to gain some insight into the Didier Drogba situation.

Will he stay or will he go?

When I think of the situation surrounding Drogba, all I can think of is the song "Should I stay or should I go?" by The Clash. It seems that Mr. Drogba has been asking himself this question since Jose Mourinho left last year and the answer isn't getting any clearer.

This is not the first time that the Ivorian national has doubted his career at Chelsea. During the 2005-06 season, he made a statement that made known his desire to return to his former club Marseille. However, with the prospects of Mourinho running a 4-4-2, Drogba seemed to be more inclined to sign a contract extension with Chelsea.

Ahead of last weeks tie with Bordeaux, it is reported that Drogba had a meeting with representatives from Inter Milan, where Mourinho now coaches. There is no clear indication of what the talks were about but when asked, Drogba reminds everyone that he has a contract at Chelsea until 2010.

Peter Kenyon, the chief executive at Chelsea, seems to agree. "Didier is under contract for the next 18 months," he told the BBC and it would seem that the club is unwilling to let the striker go.

The Aftermath?

How would Chelsea do without Drogba?

I am going to venture a guess that they would do just about as well as they are doing right now.

It is taking time but Anelka is slowly working into his boots and once the team is fully fit, they will get back to the way they were at the start of the season.

Chelsea have a solid midfield and a decent back four. They also have one of the better goalkeepers in the world. It isn't as though Drogba is the glue that is holding it all together.

I will not deny, he is a great striker. Had he been available against Arsenal, would it have made a difference? Maybe. Maybe not. There is no real way of telling. It all comes down to a giant game of chance.

A transfer would have the chance to develop the talents of other strikers though, such as Salmon Kalou.

For Inter, who are currently flying atop the Serie A, Drogba would have an active role under Mourinho.

He would be paired with former Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo, who left under the Mourinho term.

Will He Dive Into A New Team After 2010?

Apart from his on pitch antics, Drogba will likely dive into his own sorrows once his Chelsea contract is up.

Unless he comes back with a strong performance in the second half of the season and into next year, I doubt the Blues will give him an offer he can't refuse.

However, I don't believe that any other team that he would want to play for will offer him enough.

Although, he may side with a team that works a clause into his contract for tissue because it will not be the last time that Drogba will cry for a change of venue.

Does the Manager Truly Matter at the Top Level?

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:44:09 -0500

With their most recent draw in the books, Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, stated on Wednesday evening that if his side draw to Cluj, he should return to Brazil.

If this is the case, and it very likely will be if the Blues do draw, it will mean the third manager for Chelsea in under a year and a half.

The question that will arise to most of Europe, if Scolari leaves, is; when will they find a manager that will stay?

I think a more appropriate question is: Does the management of Chelsea really matter to the teams success?

Well Does It?

I think both the long and the short answers to this are no. When you see the dramatic change that has occurred at Stamford Bridge in the last eighteen months, the evidence is one change away from being rock solid.

I would venture a guess that most people that support one of the big four teams in the Premier League don't consider what would happen if their teams manager were to leave in the middle of a season.

I think once you hit a certain number of talented players, the coaching becomes a secondary part of the picture to a certain extent.

I don't mean to say that Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, or Rafael Benitez do not have an influence on their teams. They do. However, a team of great players will still produce goals and demolish sides.

If the manager were removed, a few things would likely happen.

There would be turmoil among the players. If the gaffer was a liked man then the players would certainly be angry and voice an opposition. But the first thing to remember is, these are players above all else. I doubt Wayne Rooney would give up his pay check for Sir Alex.

There would likely be hardships in the dressing room. However sorting out a simple scuffle between the players usually falls to the team captain.

The second issue would lie with the fans. If Ferguson or Wenger were to be removed the fans would likely riot outside of Old Trafford or The Emirates, much the way they did during the manager rows earlier in the season. However, much like the players, they would get over it.

The realization that the manager might not have mattered as much would set in once their team started to win again.

I can remember listening to podcasts back when the switch came to appoint Avram Grant as manager at Chelsea last fall. The instant feedback was terrible. People were ready to tar and feather Grant at the drop of a goal. But by seasons end you would have thought that he turned water to wine.

The Bottom Line

When it comes down to it, sure, the manager means a lot.

He is the public face for the team. He handles social functions, charity events, and other general team business. Then he shows up at the training pitch and tells the guys to run around and do their stretches. He runs them through a few drills and then goes home.

However, at the top levels of play, you are dealing with guys who have been playing since they could stand.

They know how to handle themselves with a ball. Much the way Peyton Manning dictates his hurry up offense in American Football. These players could dictate their own play and still come away with wins.

A Chilly Eurpoean Night Freezes Chelsea's Chances To Qualify.

Bela Trimmel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:26:03 -0500

A late fall evening in the south of France froze the beleaguered legs of Chelsea on their way to the knockout round of Europe's premier club competition on Wednesday night.

Chelsea took on an eager Bordeaux side ahead of matchday six, where the close race in Group A will decided who goes forth and who will compete for a spot in the EUFA Cup.

Chelsea, who came out and thumped Laurent Blanc's side back on matchday one, were heavy favorites going into this match. However, after having being thrashed by Roma 3-1 in their last match, the doubts that this would turn into a draw or even a loss found substantial support.

The first half of play saw Bordeaux testing the remarkable skill of Chelsea's net minder, Petr Cech. Shot after shot came his way early in the match and forced the Chelsea back four to work overtime.

The game remained one-sided until after the first half when the Chelsea first team decided to finally come out of the dressing room.

One rampant issue that ran against the Blues was the consistent offside calls that were brought against Anelka.

Service from the wings was uncalculated at best as the French side continued to hold off the Lions until late in the second half.

Nicolas Anelka would finally receive a break at the 60th minute when Lampard played the ball into the path of Anelka, who would run in it and break the scoring open for Chelsea. The goal itself was a stroke of luck on the part of Anelka. A tad bit more pressure would have pushed him off the ball, and better positioning by Mathieu Valverde would have been the end of the only chance that Chelsea had the entire game.

A high shot over the bar by Frank Lampard would be the only other real chance that Chelsea would have in the match, despite the introduction of Drogba at the 63rd minute.

After the goal, Chelsea seemed to have retained some spark but it was quickly doused by Alou Diarra, the former Liverpool player. A well placed piece of corner service from Bordeaux at the 82nd minute drew a header from the captain as he stunned a flat-footed Chelsea with a textbook leaping header.

The goal would seal the deal and tie the game, squandering Chelsea's chance to get the go ahead nod for the knockout stages.

Looking ahead to the matchday six, Chelsea clearly have the advantage over CFR Cluj, while Bordeaux travel to Italy to face Roma. Chelsea will be without Frank Lampard who was sent off in the 86th minute.

Why I Love This Beautiful Game, Part Five: How Football Explains the World

Bela Trimmel — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:15:07 -0400

This article has been a long time coming. I didn't want to jump right on it and hammer out a piece of dribble. So I sat down and thought about how football explains the world, and it occurred to me that it not only explains the world but it can explain just about any part of life that someone may be going through.

I will only be highlighting a few points here, but I will try and paint the broadest strokes possible for the purpose of maximum inclusion.

Love

I know this must be the obvious aspect of the game that we all experience. But it's not even a general love most times. It seems that a love for this game is more akin to that you experience in high school or college.

You meet that beautiful girl who happens to be called Chelsea and constantly wears the color blue. You meet her, and everything is right in your world. She is the perfect incarnation of what you thought your first love would be.

You can't always see her, because she's not always on the tele, but eventually you raise the gas money and the entrance fee to go to her job and watch her work. You feel almost at home there with the other lads that have payed to see her and that tart whose parents named her Wigan (poor lass).

Chelsea does her job well, and you go home a happy man. However, it's not always like that. Chelsea starts to forget how to play well, and she starts to forget about the special times you two had together. You get absolutely frustrated with her, and you are about to quit her and everything she does.

But then you have a change of heart when she realizes the error of her ways and starts to play well again.

Fickle, eh? Just like high school and college love for the most of us.

There is a second type of love, though, and it's deep and passionate. It is almost like the way the Italians play football. The fan loves the game like curvaceous beauty that she can be.

With all her twists and turns and drawbacks, she is still the best love that you have had. Even better than your wife. You almost feel wrong. It's like you are cheating on your loved one. And it's not a one time cheat either. With all the competitions that FIFA hosts these days, you are cheating year-round.

A Sense of Belonging

I remember being in high school and not really belonging anywhere within the social hierarchy. I had friends in every corner of that high school, but it felt weird. I felt like a bit of an outsider. Then I discovered football and I really didn't feel left out anymore.

No other sport offers the sense of belonging that football does. The community, even here on Bleacher, is so large that you will always run into someone that you can talk to about football.

I vacationed in Cancun over the summer and was shocked to find a Chelsea fan at the bar one night. The bartender happened to be a Liverpool fan, and it made for such a wonderful evening.

The team level of belonging is so unique in football as well. If you were to take a poll of fans from your favorite team about their nationality, the list of countries represented would be astounding.

It is not only amazing on the international scale but the domestic level as well.

You go to the local pub on match day, and you meet other supporters that you have probably sang with and drank with. There comes that sense of belonging that you lacked in high school.

Even if you don't have a team, you can still gain that sense of belonging if you know a little about the game.

I have had discussions with people who didn't know the difference between Manchester United and Manchester City or why the Barcelona and Real Madrid match is so huge. They did, however, understand the basics of the game, and once again great conversation came about.

Pride in Your Country

How many world championships does FIFA hold these days? There is always a form of international competition going on, and, regardless if you follow it closely, there is someone who is.

The Olympics happen every four years and only in certain sports. The championships for football are constantly going. You can never say that you can't pull out a USA Soccer shirt because the team is "out of season."

Winning one of these events takes the notion of pride one step higher.

Even if you are an American citizen of Italian descent, a World Cup win for Italy is a World Cup win that you and possibly your parents and grandparents can appreciate.

Even though America does not have the greatest track record in international football, I still pull out my gear and watch every match that I can. A goal for Landon Donovan is a goal for America.

Simply put, football can unite a nation. Wars have been stopped because of national teams qualifying for the World Cup.

There is a power in that stronger than globalization alone.

So Why Does This Matter?

It's a short article that does not even begin to dig into how the game of football affects our average, everyday life. It was never meant to do that. However, I hope that it makes the average fan take a step back and examine how the sport affects them.

I have seen an increase in my social skills since I started playing. My interest in foreign languages has shot through the roof. My desire to visit foreign lands can not even be measured.

At the end of the day someone might ask, "What does this have to do with football?"

Everything.

Football has transcended globalization. It did so years ago before we even knew what globalization was.

Football took a step in explaining how we act as humans. Since so many of the tenets of the sport are intertwined with our lives, it's not hard to see how this beautiful game not only explains the world but the people in it, and that's why I love it so much.

Hi, My Name Is Bela and Like Michelle, I'm an Addict As Well

Bela Trimmel — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:25:59 -0400

Not to try and one up Michele Alves's article on being a football addict but I thought I'd share my own experiences as well.

I can remember a time in my life when the color blue was just the color blue.

I can remember a time when I hated going to my cousins soccer games because I could have used that time to be doing something else.

The list could go on and on but I rather get on to the real confession here.

So, I'm addicted. Addicted to football like the college freshman becomes addicted to Ramen noodles. Football, much like Ramen, is always there. Spring. Summer. Fall. Winter. Also, like Ramen, it's cheap. A ball and someones rolled up t-shirts to delineate goals and you are set.

It's probably the cheapest addiction in the world.

I became addicted to football sophmore year of college when the school started offering free cable and I had Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off from class. I would flip through the channels and end up with Champions League match days.

I was actually kinda weary of it at first. You know, like the first time you raise your hand in a class. You want to but you don't want to come off as a tool. I had grew up with cousins who played American football and baseball. This football would definitely not be recieved well around the family.

So, I hid the early part of my addiction. I would look at soccernet or the BBC long after everyone went to bed. I discovered Chelsea and then the color blue became more than a color. It was a flag, a banner, and a feeling to get behind.

I finally told my mom I like football when I came home with a ball one day. From there, Christmas lists were littered with jersey and Chelsea related requests. She has probably spent more on Chelsea stuff in the last four years than she did on Ninja Turtle stuff when I was five.

Still I yern for more. More football.

My kit request list is currently up to seven teams. I took the D.C. Metro out to the ghetto to buy a D.C. United kit.

My obsession isn't just related to one team and I think that's part of the problem. I collect anything that has to do with the beautiful game. I have shirts that say (insert college name here) soccer from at least four different schools. I have had friends specifically buy them for me.

Then it comes down to watching the game.

I have sat on the couch in my apartment and watched almost every single Champions League matchday for the last four years. When I had class on match days, I'd pull ESPN up and seldom answer in class.

I have been accosted by not so bright Arsenal and Man U fans who did not take into account the hooligan'esque glare that I gave them.

I have defended the US national team to a room full of international students and somehow walked away with my life and battered adidas ball.

I have walked balls to class with me and did simple footwork—back and forth between my feet—while the teacher taught.

It is unhealthy how much I love this beautiful game. But the way I look at it, I could be addicted to something much worse. So, football, despite the fact that you nearly give me a heart attack for the entire year, you are my anti-drug and I am happy to be addicted.

Fabio Capello to Snub Michael Owen Yet Again

Bela Trimmel — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:49:43 -0400

I can remember back when my cousin Kevin was playing football. He used to rant and rave about Michael Owen. So, a few years later, when I started to watch football more, the first name I flocked to was Michael Owen.

And rightfully so. Owen has proved himself not only domestically but on the international level as well. So that makes me wonder why England coach, Fabio Capello, has snubbed the player for the recent round of qualifiers.

While the official list of 23 has not been released, Capello has been rather mum about the possibility that Owen will be kitting up for the Three Lions.

Capello is citing that the recent activities taking place at Newcastle United are not good for Owen and could shake his confidence on the pitch. That seems like a rather bad assessment on Capello's part, since Owen has scored five goals in seven appearances this season.

Capello has countered the goal argument by reaffirming his belief that the situation at a club can effect the way a player plays. This can be a valid argument, but it seems like Capello is taking a page from the Scolari coaching method.

The Chelsea gaffer repeatedly said that he could fix the problem with Anelka by talking to him and trying to bolster his confidence.

Despite the turmoil at St. James', it seems that Owen, who is finally fit, is in perfect working order. In fact a stint with the national team, where he has performed well in the past, might just be what the doctor ordered.

Capello, however, is using the space on the team to give more time to the big gun from Arsenal, Theo Walcott, whose hat-trick sealed England's victory over Croatia last month.

Psychologically, Capello should be worried about Walcott more than Owen. Arsenal have seen poor results in their last two Premiership outings, losing to Hull and nearly losing against Sunderland.

While this is unlikely to be Owen's last chance to draw a cap for England, his time with the Three Lions is likely dwindling. He might get eleven more caps and then never see daylight again. The new status symbol seems to be to get the 100th cap, and Owen currently sits at 89.

Time will only tell if the sun is setting on Owen's career. It is clear, though, that the striker is not done and to scrub him from your roster because you do not feel that he is mentally capable of playing at the international level is a faulty move that will likely make Capello another casualty in the long line of England managers.

Why I Love This Beautiful Game Part 4: League Structure

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:27:23 -0400

Ah, Derby County. As one of the twelve founding members of the Football Association, one may expect them to be at the height of the English game. Well, I would hope that those people wouldn't get their hopes up to high.

Derby County fans rejoiced during the 2007-2008 season when their team was bumped into the Premier League following their finish in the previous season. However, the joy would be short lived when Derby stepped back down into the Football Championship League.

I love this beautiful game because the concept of relegation is amazing. If you play hard, you get bumped up and gain the reward that comes with it. You might even get some national airtime or international, if Setanta or Fox Soccer Channel decide to show the game.

On the other hand, if you play poorly, you get to spend a year playing in a league where you are less likely to get t.v. coverage. You are also likely to loose out on revenue. Who would want to see a bumped down Newcastle take on Barmsley? Not many fans.

Unfortunately, relegation isn't a concept that would really work in America. It would be hard to demote an NFL team down to the Arena Football League. It would however, be a tad bit easier to bump a MLB team down to AAA or a NHL team down to the minors.

Returing to a point I made earlier when listing off the pros of relegation, I love it simply because of the chance it offers a team. If you are playing consistent football and you have a spot on team, then you have a chance to pull into the next division.

Also, you gain revenue and that leads to the acquisition of better players. Even if you get bumped right back down, having gained enough to buy a few good players is enough incentive to work toward that goal of getting that top flight spot back and changing the history of your team forever. And that's why I love relegation.

The conclusion to the series will be coming shortly and it will cover how the beautiful game tends to explain the world.*

*Not to be confused with Franklin Foer's book.

Texas Youth Mistaken For Magpie Owner

Bela Trimmel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:16:50 -0400

While on a school sponsored field trip to New York, Texas teenager, Bobby Hill, was mistaken for Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley.

The 13-year-old who is from Arlen, Texas, a town known for its love of American Football, was shocked as a group of Newcastle fans clouded around him to give their two quid about the current tribulations at St. James's Park.

When the fans finally realized that the youth was not the teams incompetent owner, they offered to buy the lad a pint, clearly ignoring the legal drinking age in the United States.

"Well, I figured that was the worse offense I could have given, like. So it was only common courtesy to offer him a proper drink to repay me own stupidity," said one of the supporters.

When told of the saga that has engulfed the northeast corner of England for some time, the boy had this to say:

"I use to play soccer but my dad didn't like the fact that I was one of eight other captains. I don't even think he would like the fact that I look like the owner of a team. My dad doesn't really understand soccer but I think it's kinda funny. So what's this Mike Ashley guy like?"

When he was informed of the rash decision by Ashley in buying the team and his, now subsequent, selling of the team, Hill kinda laughed then looked confused before responding.

"It's not good business to do stuff like that. You can get into hairy situations if you run shoddy business like that. My dad's boss, one time, almost got killed by some guys that he was playing cards with because he promised them his business. Problem was, my dad's boss lost and tried to take it back. My dad is pretty much cleaning up his boss's messes for him. Maybe that's what Newcastle need, someone like my dad."

Hill was delighted to take photos with the Toon Army and even sported a Newcastle jersey for the pictures.

"I hope Ashley's listening. It took a 13-year-old boy to tell a grown man how to do his job, like, and that's just sad," said another supporter as she boarded her coach to return to the airport.

Why I Love This Beautiful Game Part 3: Year Round Play

Bela Trimmel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:24:40 -0400

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a huge fan of the MLS. I started watching the beautiful game and saw nothing but European teams to start out with.

This spoiled the hell out of me.

The MLS is almost always touted in serious football circles as being a pansy league. Even with David Beckham trying to change that, it is unlikely that the MLS will ever reach great heights in the States, let alone worldwide.

You know what I figured I liked about MLS though? It's on during the summer — when the rest of Europe is taking a holiday from the sport. I get a game that has seen its level of quality increase slowly over the last five years.

It isn't La Liga, the EPL, or even the Australian leagues, but it is a perfect reprieve from the lack of European football in the off months.

That is a truly beautiful thing. There is always some incarnation of the beautiful game on at some time during the year. Granted most of it is on during the fall to spring, there is still football on.

American football, baseball, basketball, and hockey — none of these sports have counterparts that play on a yearly basis. Even if they do, the leagues and the competitions aren't wide enough to receive public acclaim.

There is always a championship going on somewhere in the world. It never fails. Be it the Copa Libertadores or one of the many global competitions that FIFA hold every year. As a football fan, you are never really in a drought when it comes to games.

While it might not always be the best football in the world, it's football none the less. I love the beautiful game not for the teams or the players but because of what it is — a simple game that can unite war-torn countries and restore national pride.

With its continuous schedules and its ability to keep me critiquing teams even when Chelsea is not on the pitch, this is why I love the beautiful game.

Part 4 will deal with the structure of the leagues, and why I love that aspect of the game.

The Ball Is Round and It's Also Black and White

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:26:38 -0400

When I think about what a soccer ball looks like, I think of the image displayed here. A black and white ball. It occurred to me, as I was reading an article on how Croatian fans were making racial chants at England striker Emile Heskey, that this could be a metaphor for the coming together of both black and white players of the game. Global diversity. Oh how soccer continues to explain the world.

However, the game is not always that clear cut. There are fans who still make racial chants toward players despite FIFA fines. The Croatia Football Federation was fined 14,920 pounds for their fans' actions in the World Cup Qualifier earlier this month.

FIFA went on record and said that they do not condone racism and if the problem persists, more extreme actions will be taken.

Should there even be a warning system and fines for this kind of behavior? It isn't like this is the first time someone has made a rude chant at a match before.

I have on my right wrist one of the Stand Up/Speak Up wristbands that Thierry Henry pushed with his campaign to stop racism in the game. This campaign started in 2005 but it seems that the publicity for it has been abandoned with no intent to revive it.

Scope of the Problem

The language in the FIFA documents that deal with this issue make it sound like it is something that can allayed with simple fines. Obviously it isn't. There are cases that go back to ethnic abuse as far back as the 1970s in Israel.

While the problem has certainly been accelerating in recent years, it is not limited to just one nation. Much like most individuals associate hooliganism with English football, Eastern Europe in general is considered to be the birthplace of racism in football.

Yet, just like hooligan theories, racism exist in just about every major country that fields a team. It has even moved beyond race in some countries. There are attacks on national origin, religious affiliation, and more than likely political affiliation.

This, just like hooliganism, is not something that should be treated as lightly as FIFA does. The policy is too loose and does not really effect most of these nations. Except for the pooer football associations, a fine here and there is nothing.

The documentation that I have seen from FIFA states that the countys football association will be initially fined and if the action continues,

b) Serious offences may be punished with additional sanctions,
in particular an order to play a match behind closed doors, the
forfeit of a match, a points deduction or disqualification from the
competition.(FIFA Disciplinary Code. Section 3. Article 58. Paragraph 2)

How many teams have ever had this happen though?

I can tell you that the number is low. FIFA rather let the governing bodies within the countries deal with the issue. However, when it comes to national teams, the responsability shouldn't fall to UEFA but FIFA.

Come on, Sepp Blatter, don't drop the ball on this one. This is an issue that will only get worse as time goes on.

Earlier this year in South Africa, there were riots were people were being beat because of their ethnic backgrounds. Over 200 individuals were arrested in Johannesburg alone for charges that ranged from rape to attempted murder. In all, 22 people died from the middle of May through the end of the month. Perhaps some the worst violence came from the case of a man from Mozambique was burned alive after having come to South Africa seeking work to support his family. After the incidents ceased, FIFA stated that they had no need to execute its contingency plan of relocating the cup.

Imagine the backlash that FIFA would have to face if there are racial attacks committed during the games in 2010. No insurance policy in the world could save them from the reality they would have to face.

Why I Love This Beautiful Game Part 2: Matchday Atmosphere

Bela Trimmel — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:45:15 -0400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgN_sVMGdY

I remember the first time I saw a Champions League match. I forget who Liverpool were playing because I was utterly enthralled by the unanimous voice of Anfield.

The video that I posted here is from a Chelsea/Liverpool match at Anfield. You have to speed it up to almost the last minute or so, but you can only hear the first verse of the Champions League anthem before "You'll Never Walk Alone" drowns it out.

In the United States, we show up to a game and make a ton of noise. We don't chant or sing really. Well, college football games are full of song, but only when teams score.

I went to see the US men's team a few years back when they played in Nashville and all I could do was sit back and be appalled by the US fans lack of emotion. "Sam's Army", the US supporters club, would sit down between cheers and it was always the same repetitive cheers that you would see at a normal sporting event.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stands, the visiting teams fans were burning flares, banging drums, waving flags. It is amazing to see a group of fans stand up and cheer in unison for an extended period of time with the purpose of driving the players to score.

I know the fans of the hockey team here at school have a very European flare to them when it comes to cheering. The school flag is constantly waving and there is always some form of song or chant going on.

There is also, usually, pre-game stuff done at the bar that sits next to campus. Get your pride on at the bar and then make your way to the game. After the game, you normally migrate back to the bar.

The experience of a match-day when it comes to football is truly one of the best features. In certain countries, when games are played during the week, it is almost expected that you will be absent from work if your team is scheduled.

A friend of mine made a good point at a Washington Nationals game back in April. "Bela," he said, "Americans will never be like football fans because we are simply too lazy. Look at us now, sitting down with our beer. We lack the energy to stand up straight and sing for forty-five minutes and turn around and do it again fifteen minutes later."

It's rather true. So match-days, with all their festivity are yet another reason why I love this beautiful game.

Part Three is coming soon, and will focus on the year long season that is professional football.